"For as long as I can remember, I have found small talk problematic. It was boring at best and stressful at worst. A colleague commenting on the weather, when I could see for myself that it was raining. The postman asking: How are you today? An impossibly broad question to answer briefly. I worked in book publishing for years, where networking was essential. I could discuss authors, print runs or marketing budgets with ease."
"But when the world reopened, returning to chat about the traffic and weather felt like psychological torture. My lines were rusty. The masks we had been, literally, wearing for so long had made me forget how to put my social one back on. All that changed in May this year. While at a friend's art show, I suddenly felt inspired to try a different approach."
I have always found small talk boring and stressful, often feeling judged during trivial exchanges about the weather or travel. Working in book publishing made professional conversation easy, but everyday chit-chat felt performative and confusing. I rehearsed small talk like an actor to appear relaxed, which eventually reduced the anxiety. Lockdown removed the need to perform and led to deeper, more authentic interactions, making subsequent return to casual socializing feel torturous. Relearning small-talk after reopening felt awkward. Later, at a friend's art show in May, a shift in perspective inspired an attempt to try a different approach.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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